Oct 13, 2006 By Jim Downey 4 min read

Connellsville’s Joe Villaneuva entered as the defending champion while Jeff Palya of Laurel Highlands had to sit out the 2005 Fayette County Coaches Association Cross Country Championship recuperating from an intestinal ailment. Those in the know realized Thursday’s race at Penn State Fayette would boil down to those two runners, and the pair did not disappoint with Palya pulling away on the final ascent, and then holding off a hard-charging Villaneuva to win the county crown in 17:26, four seconds ahead of the Falcon.

Villaneuva nestled close behind Palya through most of the race with Palya occasionally making a move to test Villaneuva. Connellsville’s No. 1 runner responded throughout until the final hill of the race.

“I started to move on the downhill before the last uphill. I got distance going up the hill,” explained Palya. “He was coming. I could hear him.

“I thought (Villaneuva) would either go out hard or lay back, and that’s what he did.”

As expected, Palya was just happy he was running again after painfully watch others do so last year.

“I just wanted to be out there and I couldn’t,” said Palya. “I just thank Jesus for the opportunity to come back and run.”

Villaneuva wanted to successfully defend his title, but he knew he would have his hands full with Palya in the race.

“I would’ve like to win,” said Palya. “I could tell he had some strategy. He took the hill a little harder the second time. I tried to kick (at the end of the race).”

Connellsville’s Arlo Helms’ kick was enough as he edged the Mustangs’ Ryan Thorn by .10 seconds for third place in a time of 17:54.19.

The Falcons’ Alan Nedley did what coach Joe Siecinski wanted him to do, finishing fifth in 18:17.

“I was supposed to take runners when I could and that’s what I did,” said Nedley. “Those guys (the top four finishers) had a great race.”

“Alan Nedley does a great job for us,” said Siecinski.

Nedley passed Albert Gallatin’s Logan Howard, but that would be the only runner in the latter part of the race to do so as the Colonial finished sixth in 18:39.

“I really didn’t die. They all ran good races,” said Howard. “Only (Palya and Villaneuva) have beat me (in Section 2-AAA) this year. I’m very pleased. I couldn’t be happier.”

The weather did take a bit of a toll on Howard.

“It burned. (The cold) got me in my chest,” said Howard, adding, “I couldn’t feel my toes or fingers.”

The run for the team trophy began as Connellsville’s Jeremy Molinaro finished in seventh place with a time of 18:41. The Falcons’ Nathan Richter brought the title home, as well as earning a spot on the all-county team, when he finished ninth. Nick Zurawski (12th) and Denny Curry (13th) closed the all-around team performance.

“The boys ran hard. It was a great race. Jeff Palya ran a nice race,” said Siecinski. “Now we have to gear up for the WPIAL Championship.”

Uniontown’s John O’Neil grabbed an all-county plaque with an eighth-place finish in 18:49. The Red Raiders’ Dezmine Teets edged teammate Brodie Kelley at the finish line for the final all-county berth.

O’Neil was on the outside looking in until he made a big push near the finish.

“I didn’t know if I was going to catch them. Richter started to pull away, but he let up. I told myself it was my time to go,” said O’Neil. “My time was a big PR (personal record) for me.”

NOTES: Steven Cowen was the first Frazier runner to finish, placing 23rd with a time of 21:53. … Josh Stalvey was the top Brownsville runner, finishing 27th in 22:18. … Connellsville swept the junior varsity race with Nick Mongell finishing first in 19:50, James Butts second in 20:24 and Ryan Butela placing third in 20:28. … Geibel Catholic returned to the county meet with a junior high team, and did so in style with the Gators’ Eric Porter taking the title in 8:57. Frazier’s Brandon Matthews was second and the Mustangs’ Ian Sunyecz finished third.